Market Place

Digital Access

Home Delivery

Want to make sure you receive the latest local news? We’ve got you covered! Get the best in local news, sports, community events, with focus on what’s coming up for the weekend. Weekly mail subscription offers

Email Newsletters

Sound Off: No Scrooges at Dick Pond

Dec. 23, 2013

No Scrooges at Dick Pond
To the person who called about lights not being on the Dick Pond shoe mobile during the Electric Light Parade. The lights worked at the start of the parade, but as sometimes happens with Christmas lights, they died two blocks into the parade. To show that we are the opposite of Scrooge, come into the store before Jan. 1, say the secret word, "lights," and get a pair of technical running socks free with any purchase. A bright holiday to all.

Kaneland concert magnificent
I had the pleasure Wednesday night, to attend the Kaneland High School holiday concert. What a truly wonderful performance. From the opening trumpets, heralding the start of the show, to the Madrigal singers, the concert band, the choir, the mimes and the jazz band, it was truly a magical experience. Imagine my shock and delight to hear songs with a religious theme, both Christian and Jewish. I thought such things were not allowed in public schools. The end of the show featured a spine-tingling rendition of Handel's "Messiah." Congratulations and kudos to all the teachers and students who presented this magnificent holiday show. Take a bow for a job well done.

Praise for St. Charles East choir
I went to the St. Charles East High School holiday choir concert, and it was just beautiful. The music director is wonderful. He conducts such beautiful things. And the children did such a wonderful job. It was so professional. I'd advise everybody to go and see it next year.

It is treacherous
Two snowfalls, two of the same old from Geneva. We need the alleys plowed in Geneva east. We must park in back to avoid your ticketing rampages at 2.1 inches; yet then we cannot get out of our driveways and garages because the alleys are never plowed to the asphalt. One "lane" at best is ever done (today we have basically two tire ruts), and now with the freeze again tomorrow it will be treacherous as always on the alleys.

Where is the Salvation Army?
Just wondering, do we still have a working Salvation Army in the area? I see The Salvation Army red kettles out and about, but I have not heard anything about the organization for quite some time. We used to always see the former leaders out and about throughout the year, especially during the holidays. What's happened? Just wondering.

What they gave us
On Dec. 18, the Kane County Chronicle reported that the Batavia School District OK'd a higher levy. The law for tax levy changes needs to be changed, so any changes need to go through a referendum vote. Then, the district would need to justify the changes. The citizens need an attorney that could make this happen. The district has attorneys that are paid for with our tax dollars. The district threatens to increase class sizes or reduce curriculums. Like politicians, there is no accountability for the board members. I've never seen any sign of the school district cutting costs. If they were cutting costs, they would let you know. People should be sick of rubber-stamp approvals. Anyone with students in the district already knows there are student fees for everything. Tis the season for giving. The school board just gave it to us.

Protest the insanity
At school, if some students are going around bullying other students, they get reprimanded or suspended from school. It's time to suspend the school board. They keep on bullying honest taxpayers by raising their property taxes every year. It is getting way out of control. Thousands of people are losing their homes, but the board doesn't care. They keep raising the taxes. Enrollment is down. Taxes have gone out of sight. It's time for everybody to protest this insanity. Please help.

Sick and tired of high taxes
As a 40-year-old resident of Batavia, I would love to see the levy lowered. I need the money right now, and boy would it be nice for every homeowner to get back what they have been putting into the taxes. The school board will just add on taxes – "We want this. We want this." I'm sick and tired of paying these high taxes. You guys are taxing us out of our homes. I hope you're proud of yourselves.

He's no Mr. Mandela
To the caller who thinks that Mr. Obama is our Mr. Mandela, I just don't see that similarity, other than they have both been elected officials. Unlike Mr. Mandela, our president has not brought the nation together. He has not been forgiving. He has been judgmental. He has not been compromising, and he doesn't work well with others. He demeans and denigrates those with a different view. He has been generally disingenuous. I fail to see the similarity between our president and Mr. Mandela.

America's Mandela?
To the caller who said that Obama is America's Mandela, I thoroughly agree. Obama should spend 27 years in prison.

Vote no
I just found out about the property tax increase referendum, and I only ask, why do we have to do this now? Isn't this a really bad time to be raising taxes on your citizens? People have fixed incomes and they are losing their homes. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois has the second-highest property taxes in the nation. And yet, there is a group trying to raise our property taxes by $13 million. I ask people to vote no on the referendum on March 18.

We're not all rich
I'm calling about the raise in school taxes, especially St. Charles – 2.5 percent? Excuse me? People can't afford to live on that. I know people who are still without jobs or working very few hours. So, St. Charles, start living like everyday people. We're not all rich.

• You can sound off, as well, by calling our Sound Off line at 630-845-5240 or by sending an e-mail to soundoff@kcchronicle.com. Calls must be limited to 1 minute or less.